It is a modifier that makes explicit his intention not to use the word literally. Ironic that I'm getting dinged in a thread of discussion about language. If y

It is a modifier that makes explicit his intention not to use the word literally. Ironic that I'm getting dinged in a thread of discussion about language. If you want to tell they guy he's hyperbolic (he is), then fine, but don't tell him he said this something was ACTUALLY the same as being racist when he went out of his way not to